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Salisbury Chamber hopes to revive Chicken Festival

By Phil Davis Staff Writer
2:20 p.m. EDT August 18, 2014

The giant fry pan draws a crowd as Pete Hutchinson with the Salisbury Host Lions Club rakes the chicken in the oil during the 2012 Delmarva Chicken Festival. <137> outside the Centre at Salisbury in Salisbury, Friday<137>(Photo: Daily Times file photo)

The Delmarva Chicken Festival could continue its decades-old tradition next year with its first new sponsor in 65 years, the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber is currently exploring picking up the mantle from the Delmarva Poultry Industry to host the chicken festival, according to Chamber President Memo Diriker. In April, DPI announced the festival held in Queen Anne's County would be its last after hosting the event every year since 1948.

DPI president Keith Moore cited a need to focus the organization's efforts elsewhere, saying DPI "feels that in today's world there may be more effective ways to promote the chicken industry and educate the general public."

In a statement, Ernie Colburn, the Chamber's chief executive officer, said the office has filed the paperwork to maintain the event's proper title, "Delmarva Chicken Festival," even with the event's new sponsorship.

Diriker added that the Chamber hasn't "made any firm decisions" as to whether the Chamber will officially host the festival or, if they did, whether it would be in the same capacity as previous years.

The Chamber is currently exploring its options with the Chamber's Tourism Network, according to Diriker, who said the Chicken Festival is an "important and integral part of (Delmarva's) economy."

"Anything that can put heads to beds and put people into restaurant seats is always a good thing," added Diriker.

The festival brings in thousands of attendees each year, highlighting the area's prominence in the chicken industry.

In 1950, the event hosted what was then known as the world's largest frying pan built by Mumford Sheet Metal Works of Selbyville. The pan was 10 feet in diameter, 8 inches deep and could cook 800 chicken quarters at one time.

DPI announced last week it had donated the 1950 pan to the Georgetown Historical Society. A replica frying pan made in 1988 was acquired by the English Co.

The Chamber has yet to name a time and location for the event, which typically takes place in June of each year in different towns across the Delmarva Peninsula.

Diriker said the Chamber will probably make a final decision on whether it will hold the festival before Christmas.